Grifalco 2019 Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DaMaschito
So wild. Fragrant and feral at once, with pronounced umami, evolved red fruit, kumquat, exotic spice and florals. Piquantly plummy palate: texturally dusty, decidedly savoury. Besides surprisingly tame tannins and citrusy nuance, you'll find tons of energy in this dramatic volcanic (spent, that is) red, and, dare I say it, certain Lo-Fi vibe. A thrill ride of a wine. — ★★★★
Appellation: Aglianico del Vulture Superiore
Region: Vulture, Basilicata, Italy
Subzone: Maschito
Cépage: 100% Aglianico
Abv: 13.5%
Production: 6,000
Élevage: 12-18 months in Slavonian oak casks, 12 months in bottle
Distributor: Vintry
Critic Reviews:
Bright purple. Open-knit and nicely expressive on the nose, with ripe strawberry and candied red cherry aromas joined by suggestions of potpourri, sweet spices and licorice. Broad and sweet on the palate, with creamy red berry and ripe cherry marmelade flavors showing a metallic and brown spice note that is typical of the vineyards of Forenza and Maschito. The soft fruit expands and deepens on the finish, which features velvety tannins and faded floral notes. Already approachable and easy to drink, this may actually not last as long as the Aglianico the Vulturee “Grifalco” bottling, but it offers a fascinating glimpse into what Aglianico can deliver in different soils and habitats. Drinking window: 2025-2035.
Ian d'Agata (Ian d'Agata, 05/2023) 95
Dark and brooding in the glass, the 2019 Aglianico del Vulture Superiore Damaschito opens with sage, violet, earth tones, and ash aromas. This is savory to the core, with a nervous feeling. Soft textures race across the palate with tart wild berry fruits and sour citrus nuances. Its minerality comes through in the finish, long and with a bitter tinge, leaving tangerine notes that pucker the cheeks over a bed of fine tannins. Drinking Window: 2024-2033.
Eric Guido (Vinous) 93
The savory, intensely umami nose features aromas of balsamic, soy sauce, seaweed and dried cherries and figs. The palate is dense with those dusty fruit notes, which are underscored by a sudden flood of salty dark chocolate. Acid gleams around powerful tannins.
Danielle Callegari (Wine Enthusiast, 05/2024) 94
With fruit from old vines aged 60 to 80 years old, the single-vineyard 2019 Aglianico del Vulture Superiore Damaschito has a more chiseled and evolved bouquet with aromas that are a little wild, almost animal-like in character, with vintage leather, teakwood, rum cake, exotic spice and a floral note that appears with great intensity as the wine opens. The tannins are tame for Aglianico, offering structure without the bitterness.
Monica Larner (Wine Advocate, 01/2024) 90
Tar and roses, dark red berries, blood orange, spice, cedar, sottobosco and whiffs of iodine all grace this vivid, mid-weight barbaresco. Endowed with sinewy fruit and animating acidity, you hardly mind the bracing tannins such is the harmony. And the perfume slays. A most delightful 'discourse' I had with a young nebby this articulate and complete, in a flattering Conterno Sensory glass no less. This is lit. — ★★★★
The 2021 Barbaresco is exquisite. Bright and delineated, with tons of energy, the 2021 bristles with saline-infused energy. Red berry fruit, blood orange, chalk, mint and white pepper lend tons of energy to this deceptively mid-weight, nervy young Barbaresco. Vineyard sites are Ovello, Cole and Loreto. Drink: 2026-2041.
Antonio Galloni (Vinous, 10/2023) 94
Young and dangerously moreish. Beams of sour cherry, pomegranate, wild berries and orange zest dazzle from nose to palate, complemented by potpourri and Mediterranean herbs notes. Tangy acidity provides lift, stealth tannins some tenacity, while ample, extroverted fruit takes centre stage; albeit at the expense of salinity and pumice. Probably a vintage thing, but hey, who's complaining? — ★★★½
Appellation: Etna Rosso
Region: Castiglione di Sicilia, Etna, Sicilia, Italy
Subzone: Passopisciaro
Cépage: 100% Nerello Mascalese
Abv: 14%
Production: 30,000
Élevage: 24 months in cement vats
Distributor: Tong Woh
Critic Reviews:
Wild berry, Mediterranean herb and lavender aromas shape the nose on the 2022 Etna Rosso from Graci. Lithe and polished, the ethereally elegant palate features pomegranate, sour cherry, ground clove and a hint of blood orange. Fresh acidity and refined tannins provide seamless support. Some may find this almost too ethereal but fans of extreme finesse will be hooked. Drink through 2028.
Kerin O'Keefe (Kerin O'Keefe, 2024) 92
Opening to a luminous ruby appearance, the Graci 2022 Etna Rosso delivers aromas of redcurrant and dried raspberry from a warm vintage. Those ripe primary tones are followed by well-dosed hints of clove and spice. The bouquet opens quickly to a second wave of mineral, ash, licorice and crushed flowers.
Monica Larner (Wine Advocate) 92
This red is textbook Etna for its appealing flavors of plumped cherry and raspberry fruit, with fragrant herb and spice accents. Offers a baseline of minerally tar and stone, plus fine, lightly chalky tannins. Fresh and balanced, with a creamy finish. Drink now through 2032. 3,300 cases made, 1,100 cases imported.
Alison Napjus (Wine Spectator) 91
Tightly wound at the core, with bright, creamy, fleshy black cherry and damson overlaid with herbs and supported by gently mouthcoating tannins. It's not the most complex wine you'll find, but the quality is evident, and it's one of the most appealing Etna Rossos for an immediately pleasurable sip, thanks to its contrast between freshness and depth of dark fruits. Drink 2024 - 2027.
James Button (Decanter, 09/2024) 91
A bright medium red color, the 2022 Etna Rosso offers is elegant and spicy and pure, with notes of fresh cherries, roses, fennel, dusty earth, and perfume. Medium-bodied, it has fine, well-defined tannins, with a stony texture and a clean, savory spice on the finish.
Audrey Frick (Jeb Dunnuck, 10/2025) 92
A dainty, devil-may-care expression that very much captures today's wine zeitgeist, even if ‘glou-glou nebbiolo’ sounds like an oxymoron. Raspberries and strawberries galore, with pink flowers, tobacco and a sprinkle of spice. Layers of parched earth and minerality unfurl to complicate things just a little. Closes tart and lively with tame tannins. A stripped-down nebby, in the best sense of the word. — ★★★½
Appellation: Roero
Region: Roero, Piemonte, Italy
Subzone: Canale
Cépage: 100% Nebbiolo
Abv: 14%
Production: 30,000
Élevage: at least 6 months in wood
Distributor: n/a
Rich, autumnal and sombre, with violets, plum, tar, cedar and hints of roasted coffee. Melting tannins have passed the baton to enduring fruit and tertiary nuance, e.g. sottobosco and soy sauce, while healthy acidity keeps things afloat. In excellent shape and on song now. Lorenzo Scavino, the impossibly good-looking fourth-generation winemaker, concurred. Legit, if nothing out of this world. — ★★★½
Appellation: Barolo
Region: Barolo, Piemonte, Italy
Subzone: San Rocco, Serralunga d'Alba
Cépage: 100% Nebbiolo
Abv: 14%
Production: n/a
Élevage: 24 months in 20% new French oak barrels
Distributor: Vie du Vin
Too deep-hued for a rosé yet too playful to be a red, this scintillating cerasuolo defies definition and then some. Floral scent recalls rose syrup. So much going on, with succulent wild berries and blackcurrant bite, peppery flourish and incredibly crunchy acidity. Blends perfume and perkiness of a rosato with poise and presence of a light red. Put simply, you get the best of both worlds. — ★★★★
Appellation: Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo
Region: Cugnoli, Abruzzo, Italy
Subzone:
Cépage: 100% Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
Abv: 14%
Production:
Élevage: fermentation in stainless steel using only indegenous yeasts; no malolactic fermentation; aged in bottle
Distributor: Vintry
Critic Reviews:
The 2022 Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo seduces with its perfumed blend of crushed cherries and strawberries, complemented by rhubarb, violets and sweet smoke. It’s racy and sleek, built on energy, with a mineral core that grips the palate. A cascade of wild berries is excited by tantalizing acidity. This finishes dramatically long, lightly structured and full of zesty tension as salty nuances combine with tart red fruits and hints of sour citrus. The 2022 takes Cerasuolo to a whole new level. This is more a red than a Rosé, and with a bouquet to match. Drink: 2024–2027.
Eric Guido (Vinous, 05/2023) 94
Deep pink: this is a much deeper colour than usual for this wine, almost pale red in fact. Red cherry, cranberry, almond paste and flowers on the perfumed deep nose. Nicely fleshy on the palate, with red berries and chewy herb-accented forest floor flavours that are very pure and fresh. The energetic and brisk finish showcases surprising weight and glyceral personality to the repeating red cherry and berry nuances. Maybe the best ever Cerasuolo from Tiberio: the 2022 vintage benefited from noteworthy wind currents that led the grapes to develop thicker skins, meaning more extraction and a rounder, bigger mouthfeel to the wine but without losing any of its trademark elegance. Drink: 2023–2026.
Ian d'Agata (Terroir Sense, 05/2023) 95
Hijacked by Governo Toscano method from the first sniff, with bouquet smothered in candied plum, macerated cherry, cake spice and chocolate. Has fingerprint of passito all over the palate too: rich, plush and remarkably fresh to boot. Found its true self in the last glass, days apart. Faint florals, orange peel and that rustic appeal sign off this sangiovese of two halves. Intriguing to say the least. Still a lot of wine and life. — ★★★½
Appellation: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Region: Montepulciano, Toscana, Italy
Subzone:
Cépage: 95% Prugnolo Gentile, 5% Colorino
Abv: 13.5%
Production: 15,000
Élevage: 70% in botte and 30% in tonneaux for 24 months, 12 months in bottle
Distributor: n/a
Critic Reviews:
The 2010 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva boasts fabulous balance and pure palate presence. Lavender, sage, plum, leather and spice notes jump from the glass as this exuberant wine shows off its personality. For the money, this is the best wine in the range, hands down.
Antonio Galloni (Vinous, 10/2014) 93
The 2010 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva opens to a pretty garnet color and lively tones of cherry and pressed fruit backed by distant brushstrokes of black olive and grilled herb. The best part of the wine is the overall freshness and vibrancy of its cherry aromas. Its appearance is bright ruby and crystalline and the mouthfeel shows that fresh acidic zest that is such a celebrated part of the Sangiovese taste profile. This wine should continue to evolve over the next five years. Drink: 2015-2025
Monica Larner (Wine Advocate, 10/2015) 93
Aromas of black plum, cake spice and hints of leather and tilled earth lead the nose. The spicy palate combines elegance and structure, offering black cherry, vanilla, mocha and white pepper alongside firm but fine-grained tannins. Drink 2016–2022.
Kerin O'Keefe (Wine Enthusiast, 07/2015) 92
Proper barnyard intro, followed by black cherry, currants, violets, earth and soft wood tones. Medium-full, spicy and firm-ish on the palate, with darker core of ripe fruit, marked acidity and dusty tannins. Everything in place, just somewhat holding back and chalky in texture. Have had enough this annata under my belt to tell it's another ugly duckling. — ★★★½
Appellation: Chianti Classico
Region: Chianti, Toscana, Italy
Subzone: Greve, Lamole, Radda and Gaiole
Cépage: 100% Sangiovese
Abv: 14%
Production: 170,000
Élevage: 12 months in French oak barriques and tonneaux (10% new), 3 months in bottle
Distributor: Asiaeuro
Critic Reviews:
The 2020 Chianti Classico is bright, fresh and nicely lifted, with terrific precision and energy lending quite a bit of character. Bright red Sangiovese fruit, spice and a touch of blood orange are front and center. Even so, the 2020 appears to still be recovering from its bottling. That should not be an issue in another 6-12 months' time. This is the first vintage that includes fruit from parcel in Greve's Lamole district. Drink: 2024-2032.
Antonio Galloni (Vinous, 06/2022) 92
The 2020 Chianti Classico is impressive and pure, with ripe black cherry, a hint of blue fruit, violets, and sweet herbs. It is medium to full-bodied, with supple fruit throughout, fine grained tannins, and a polished feel. It displays fresh acidity without any harsh edges, but it is mouthwatering and compels returning for more. This beautiful wine from Querciabella is drinking well now, and I imagine will continue to improve over the coming decade or more.
Audrey Frick (Jeb Dunnuck, 01/2023) 93
Shows black cherry and plum fruit accented by orange peel, earth and spices. Delivers dusty tannins, which lend support as this firms up on the finish.
Bruce Sanderson (Wine Spectator, 05/2023) 88
Lustrous mid ruby. Perfumed and concentrated on the nose and finely balanced on the palate. Lots of polished tannins and vibrant red fruit. Suave and long.
Walter Speller (Jancis Robinson, 02/2023) 17.5
With an annual production of approximately 150,000 bottles, this is Querciabella’s calling card – and an impressive one at that. It also gives an incisive panoramic shot of the Chianti Classico region as it's a blend of estate vineyards in three different subzones. Bright and fresh, the 2020 annata emerges energetically out of the glass with exuberant and pure red cherry and currants. It gains intrigue with stylish touches of mocha, tarragon and truffles. It's full and vigorous yet light on its feet thanks to radiant acidity, while well-formed tannins lend just the right amount of chew. As suave as it is characterful.
Michaela Morris (Decanter, 02/2023) 92
A delightfully tart nose is full of Rainier cherries and dried cranberries, with undertones of minerality and herbaceousness. The palate runs with the cherries and adds oranges to the mix, with a latent heat and a thrilling amount of acidity elevating a minty freshness through the finish.
Danielle Callegari (Wine Enthusiast, 11/2023) 92
Buoyant aromatics hit it out of the park with sour cherry, plum, earth, leather and sweet herbs. Dense but velvety and piquant on the palate, thanks to flattering supple tannins and savoury blood orange finish. Superb fluidity and thrust complete the whole picture. Young but gratifying now, should you fancy a bit of chew. Benefits from the inclusion of Riserva fruit, with or without which this estate brunello is something one can buy with their eyes closed. It always delivers. — ★★★★
Appellation: Brunello di Montalcino
Region: Montalcino, Toscana, Italy
Subzone: Sant'Angelo in Colle
Cépage: 100% Sangiovese Grosso
Abv: 14.5%
Production: 200,000
Élevage: Long aging in 30-50hl French oak barrels followed by bottle aging
Distributor: Milawa
Critic Reviews:
Impressing from the first tilt of the glass, the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino makes itself known, with a heady burst of exotic spice and crushed ashen stone giving way to dried black cherries and grilled herbs. This combines the energy of the vintage with the dark balsamic-tinged fruits of Montalcino’s southern reaches, as zesty acidity maintains balance throughout, and flinty minerals saturate toward the close. It finishes long, savory and structured, yet its tannins are more rounded than anticipated, creating both a classic feel, but also leaving a mouthwatering sensation that tricks the taster back to the glass for more. Easily one of the top wines of the vintage, the 2018 is not to be missed. Drink: 2026-2036.
Eric Guido (Vinous, 10/2022) 96+
The dense structure sets the pace for this red, with cherry, raspberry, mint and tar flavors that are appealing and expressive. Reveals rose hip, orange peel and earth details as this winds down on the long, expansive aftertaste. Built for the long term. Best from 2026 through 2046. 16,000 cases made, 450 cases imported.
Bruce Sanderson (Wine Spectator, 06/2023) 94
Lustrous deep ruby. Still quite closed on the nose with only a hint of Moroccan leather. Pure cherry-fruit flavours on the palate and with lots of ripe acidity. Fantastic, compact, gravelly tannins are a real feat in this vintage. A hedonistic whole that can already be approached but will improve over time. Drink 2023 - 2032.
Walter Speller (Jancis Robinson, 11/2022) 17++
This large and historic property in Montalcino’s southwest draws upon 140 hectares of estate vineyards to deliver a very complete and satisfying Brunello. A smoky introduction leads to leather and tobacco nuances which repeat on the palate. The 2018 is chock full of flavour as cherry and baking spice join in. It feels midweight but there is plenty of stuffing with a vigorous chewiness contributing positively to the gratifying mouthfeel. It will be even better with another year in the bottle. Drink 2024 - 2032.
Michaela Morris (Decanter, 11/2022) 92
Balsamic notes recalling camphor align with aromas of wet earth, underbrush, leather and ripe dark-skinned fruit. The palate has an earthy elegance, offering fleshy Morello cherry, game, truffle and blood orange framed in crushed velvet tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it bright. Drink: 2025-2038
Kerin O'Keefe (Wine & Spirits, 11/2022) 95
The Il Poggione 2018 Brunello di Montalcino reveals a dark and savory character with more fruit weight and concentration than you might find in many of its peers. This wine shows a dense center of gravity that is padded with dark cherry, blackberry, toasted spice, mahogany smoked meat and tilled earth. Despite the robust aromas, this Sangiovese is actually quite streamlined and polished in texture. The tannins are soft and veering toward accessibility. This is an ambitious production of 200,000 bottles. The estate’s Riserva Vigna Paganelli was not made in 2018, so fruit from that wine went here instead. Drink: 2024-2040.
Monica Larner (Wine Advocate, 03/2023) 94
The Il Poggione estate is in the hotter, south-west part of the Montalcino DOCG. Fabrizio Bindocci was the chief winemaker here for many years and now his son Alessandro fulfills this role, while Fabrizio has become president of the Brunello Consorzio. This 2018 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino has smoky, tarry aromas that I often find on this producer’s wines becoming more like a waxy, lifted note as it opens up and then becomes more oaky. What I like about this Brunello is that there is an intense, nervy, energy to this wine. It is tightly wrought like a coiled spring. The tannins have become much more refined in recent vintages from Il Poggione and in addition there is a kind of lively, energy to this wine.
Susan Hulme (The Wine Independent, 02/2023) 94
La Ca’ Növa 2015 Barbaresco Montefico Vigna Bric Mentina
Subtle, medicinal aromas of red fruit, dried roses, earth, camphor and liniment suggest something older. Pale garnet robe with bricking rim says as much. Wiry, minerally and livelier palate begs to differ, displaying vigour, tension and a refined grip. A sense of serenity and grace prevails from first drop to the last. Lovin' it. — ★★★★
Appellation: Barbaresco
Region: Barbaresco, Piemonte, Italy
Subzone: Montefico, Barbaresco
Cépage: 100% Nebbiolo
Abv: 14%
Production: 7,000
Élevage: 18 months in 30hl oak casks, 10 months in bottle
Distributor: n/a
Critic Reviews:
Quiet authority here, but what strikes me most is its line and length, which really sets it apart. Cherry, earth, almond and a smoky dried herb perfume. Medium bodied, beautiful fine line of acidity, supple brick dust tannin – structure is great – yet flavour is not compromised. Perfume and ‘minerality’, and that finish is something else. Such energy and charisma. Marvellous.
Gary Walsh (The Wine Front, 07/2018) 96
The 2015 Barbaresco Montefico Vigna Bric Mentina is powerful, but not austere as it can be. Readers will find an earthy, savory Barbaresco with tons of old-school tannin and plenty of personality. The warm vintage has made the Montefico a bit more friendly in the early going than is typically the case. Rose petal, lavender and chalk notes all develop with time. Beams of Montefico tannin give the wine its energy and overall shape. Drink 2020-2035.
Antonio Galloni (Vinous, 10/2018) 93
Domaine Giraud 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Gallimardes
Heady bouquet crammed with potpourri, raspberry compote, plum, coffee and cotton candy to the brim. Spicy attack precedes sweet-fruited assault of chocolate ganache, cherry liqueur and inner florals. Concentration screams gnarly-old-vine grenache. Big, bold and bodacious, but balance and incredibly plush mouthfeel maneuver to make it work. At a whopping 16.8%, not for the faint of heart. Literally 'heartwarming'. — ★★★½
Appellation: Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Region: Southern Rhône, Rhône, France
Subzone: Les Gallimardes
Cépage: 90% Grenache, 10% Syrah
Abv: 16.8%
Production: 3,000
Élevage: 18 months in cement vats for grenache, 18 months in used French oak barriques for syrah
Distributor: Asiaeuro
Critic Reviews:
Bigger and richer, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Gallimardes is mostly Grenache (there’s 10% Syrah) all from incredibly old vines in the Les Gallimardes lieu-dit located in the southern part of the appellation. This estate owns a tiny parcel here, and this cuvée is incredibly limited, with just 250 cases made. Possessing a huge, incredible nose of blackberries, black raspberries, crushed rocks, garrigue, melted licorice, and cured meats, this full-bodied 2016 has a wealth of fruit and richness, no hard edges, building tannins, and awesome purity of fruit. It’s the finest example of this cuvée ever made and a perfect wine. Don’t miss it!
Jeb Dunnuck (Jeb Dunnuck, 08/2018) 100
This drips with steeped raspberry, plum and boysenberry fruit, making for a decidedly fruit-driven personality. Shows ample spine, with a deeply buried bolt of graphite and hints of Turkish coffee and ganache skittering through. Offers a long echo of smoldering tobacco. A stunner. Best from 2020 through 2045. 400 cases made.
James Molesworth (Wine Spectator, 06/2018) 97
Full ruby. Spice-and smoke-accented raspberry and cherry preserve scents are complicated by hints of exotic flowers and incense. Sweet and seamless in texture, offering palate-staining red and dark berry liqueur, fruitcake and candied lavender flavors that become livelier with air. Concentrated but vibrant and sharply delineated, showing superb finishing thrust, sneaky tannins and excellent, floral-driven persistence. Drinking Window: 2026-2036
Josh Raynolds (Vinous, 12/2019) 96
A blend of 90% Grenache (aged in tank) and 10% Syrah (aged in barrel), the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Gallimardes comes from the lieu-dit of the same name and includes some fruit from Grenache vines that are more than 100 years old. Cherry and raspberry fruit flow easily across the palate in this full-bodied, silky wine that shows great richness, depth and length without excess weight. It's a terrific effort.
Joe Czerwinski (Wine Advocate, 08/2018) 95
Barnyard and leather prelude gives way to dark red fruit, plum, licorice and tobacco in aroma with whiffs of pine and clove. Classically classic sangiovese. Vigorous and broad on palate, with layered fruit, spirited acidity and mounting grip. Notwithstanding the rustic appeal, harmony and mystique are the order of the day. Real old-school vibes here, just because some brunellos can be quite 'dainty' these days. — ★★★★
Appellation: Brunello di Montalcino
Region: Montalcino, Toscana, Italy
Subzone: Montalcino
Cépage: 100% Sangiovese Grosso
Abv: 14%
Production: 30,000-35,000
Élevage: 12 months in 3.5hl Allier oak tonneaux, 24 in 30hl Slavonian oak casks, another 12 in bottle
Distributor: Tong Woh Enterprise
Critic Reviews:
Tasted blind. Healthy, concentrated ruby. Firm, but closed nose and tannic, concentrated fruit on the palate. Really gripping, unpolished and youthful. Long, chewy finish. Grows on you.
Walter Speller (JancisRobinson.com, 01/2017) 17+
The Conti Costanti 2012 Brunello di Montalcino is a sure bet even if you are a Sangiovese novice. This is a richly extracted and beautifully layered red wine that imparts generous fruit tones supported by ample spice and tobacco. The effect is supple and round, especially with regards to the bouquet. I am perhaps a little more hesitant when it comes to the mouthfeel. I tend to notice the overripe fruit here and there is a sour cherry flavor that reinforces this impression. The wine is soft and supple in texture, so basically it offers a mixed bag of mostly positive vinous sensations that make it attractive for near-term consumption.
Monica Larner (Wine Advocate, 02/2017) 91
Immensely inviting, this opens with appealing aromas including fragrant pipe tobacco, crushed berry, new leather and pressed violet. On the palate, firm, refined tannins uphold juicy black cherry, raspberry compote, cinnamon and star anise while orange zest and energizing mineral lift the finish. It's beautifully balanced, with bright acidity. It's also already tempting but hold for even more complexity.
Kerin O'Keefe (WIne Enthusiast, 12/2016) 98
Vivid dark red. Ripe aromas of red cherry, blood orange and stone fruit. Smooth, dense and juicy, with flavors similar to the aromas but complicated by notes of fresh herbs, sweet spices and hints of flint. Long and suave, with noble but youthfully chewy tannins providing support. Knockout classic Brunello, in fact, one of the year’s best.
Ian D'Agata (Vinous, 03/2017) 94+
Sweet cherry, licorice, leather and wild herb aromas and flavors converge on the dense structure of this red, which takes on a tannic edge as it plays out. There's plenty of fruit, and all the components seem to be in the right proportions.
Bruce Sanderson (Wine Spectator, 06/2017) 92
Red berries, raspberry, violet, baking spice, forest floor and petrichor grace a somewhat smoke-tinged but animated nose. Spicy, savoury and scrumptious all at once. Fleshes out in the glass with darker toned fruit, balsamic and noble tannins. Solidly put together, this modest mid-weight nebby has more bite than '18 Barolo Castelletto the other day. Elegant house style is plain to see. — ★★★½
Giovanni Rosso makes a fine, entry-level red. The 2021 Langhe Nebbiolo is slightly spicy and tart with a wide range of fun aromas from wild berry to bitter almond and blue flower. These elements make for a vibrant bouquet. There is aniseed and blood orange too. The varietal detail that can be achieved with a youthful wine like this is amazing. Drink 2023-2028.
Monica Larner (Wine Advocate, 08/23) 92
Coming from vines in Serralunga from a northern exposure, the 2021 Langhe Nebbiolo was fermented in stainless steel then spent 10-12 months in French oak. Disaplying a bright medium ruby hue, it has expressive notes of smoky incense, pomegranate, red berries, and delicate baking spices. Midweight and really fresh and easygoing, it has an elegant structure, with a chalky texture and a clean finish. Serve with a light chill and drink over the next 3-4 years.
Audrey Frick (Jeb Dunnuck, 05/24) 90
Endowed with natural generosity of the vintage, yet vividly transparent in delivery. Ripe red fruit, flowers, sanguine minerality, high-elevation acidity and poised tannins become one in total cohesion, trailing off dusty and piquant. Meticulously sculpted from fruit on north-facing slopes, the lightness of being outweighs other sentiments at this nascent juncture—delicate even compared with Testamatta—but not for lack of balance, presence nor intensity. Bona fide top-tier sangiovese. — ★★★★
Appellation: Toscana Rosso
Region: Toscana, Italy
Subzone: Olmo and Lamole
Cépage: 96% Sangiovese, 3% Canaiolo, 1% Colorino
Abv: 14%
Production: n/a
Élevage: 18 months in old barriques and 50hl casks
Distributor: n/a
Critic Reviews:
Jewel-like ruby in colour, translucent although perhaps a little deeper than some vintages. One to sink into, captures a juiciness and delicacy even in the heat of 2022. Medium intensity, raspberry and ripe red fruits, well judged, intense with a kick of orange peel, rosemary, tobacco, white tea, pomegranate, cherry pit, cut herbs, underbrush, savoury yet with a finish of sweet red liqourice, love it. Great balance, and we are fully in vivid Tuscan pleasure here from owner and winemaker Bibi Graetz. Drinking window: 2026 - 2042
Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux, 08/24) 97
Colore is the product of old vines in the Chianti Classico hills, in Lamole and Olmo. ‘Colore is my dream from the beginning of working with old vineyards…the vineyard in Lamole is beautiful, it's THE vineyard in Chianti Classico,’ says Bibi Graetz. 2022 was a hot year and so Bibi decided to only use fruit from his north-facing vineyards. ‘The hot year gives me this material, even if it is up in the mountains, north-facing; the fruit has this kick.’ Precisely sculpted and very intense, Colore 2022 is both pillowy and bright. Dark berries, spice and blood orange are gathered up by a lingering, zesty finish. It's more closed than Testamatta at the moment, but should reveal more of its beauty in time.
James Button (Decanter) 98
The Bibi Graetz 2022 Colore sources its fruit from only two sites in this vintage: from 60-year-old vines in the Olmo vineyard (with 400-meter-plus elevations) and 88-year-old vines in Lamole (Chianti Classico). The vines are mostly south-facing, but the elevations are key. Meanwhile, Testamatta comes from mostly cool, north-facing sites. These results show lots of vertical heft and sharp tones with bright fruit, mineral graphite and blue flower. Bibi seeks transparency in his wines, and although the 2022 vintage delivers heavier fruit aromas overall, the wine does offer a pretty textural lightness.
Monica Larner (Wine Advocate, 07/24) 96
Dainty and earthy in perfume, with red berries, raspberry, pomegranate, pink florals, warm tar and a whiff of camphor. Red fruit-forward and lightly spicy on the palate, with agile tannins and a juicy conclusion. Streamlined and luminous on the whole, true to vintage (or producer's Roero roots), perhaps too fine-boned for a cru Barolo. Priced accordingly though, and does scratch the itch. — ★★★
Appellation: Barolo
Region: Barolo, Piemonte, Italy
Subzone: Castelletto, Monforte d'Alba
Cépage: 100% Nebbiolo
Abv: 14.5%
Production:
Élevage: Aged in 25-50hl Slavonian oak cask and stainless steel tanks
Distributor: Verona Wines
Critic Reviews:
The 2018 Rocche di Castelletto is an attractive, ethereal wine. Dried cherry, sweet pipe tobacco, mint, cedar and dried herbs are all finely knit in this decidedly delicate, aromatic Barolo. The 2018 is on the lighter side, and yet all the elements are nicely balanced, within the style of the year. Drink: 2023-2036.
Antonio Galloni (Vinous Media, 02/2022) 90
Ricasoli 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Colledilà
Absolute cracker of a sangiovese, with a bouquet to die for. Red and black cherry, florals, thyme, blood orange, incense and mocha soar above a flinty backdrop. Masterfully composed to the core with brilliant acidity and refined tannins. Depth, precision, tension, flow, you name it, this sinewy yet sleek red has it all. Well, almost.
From fruit grown on alberese soil. The pick of the bunch out of Ricasoli's outstanding trio of terroir-specific Gran Selezione featured in Asiaeuro's 25th anniversary wine fair. — ★★★★
Appellation: Chianti Classico
Region: Chianti, Toscana, Italy
Subzone: Gaiole
Cépage: 100% Sangiovese
Abv: 14%
Production: 14,000
Élevage: 22 months in 30% new French oak tonneaux
Distributor: Asiaeuro
Critic Reviews:
The 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Colledilà is another terrific wine in this range from Brolio. It marries energy with depth, showing plenty of nuance as well as character. Dark red cherry/plum fruit, mocha, tobacco, blood orange and incense all run through this deep, fleshy Gran Selezione. The 2019 Colledilà is one of the best wines I have tasted from Brolio in some time.
Antonio Galloni (Vinous, 07/22) 94
The Barone Ricasoli 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Colledilà continues a long tradition of Colledilà excellence. It is bright medium-dark, saturated ruby-red in colour. The deep, perfumed and complex nose offers a compelling array of red cherry, raspberry, herbs, licorice, violet and spice aromas. Chewy and lush on entry, then firm and elegantly austere in the middle, it exudes a sappy set of raspberry and spice flavours complicated by a mineral and delicate herbal element. The finish lingers nicely with repeating notes of sweet cherry and forest floor, enlivened by notes of violet and redcurrant. A really knockout, highly promising Sangiovese wine that is still very young, lay this away in a good cellar for another six to seven years to get it at its best and enjoy for at least another decade after that.
Ian d'Agata (Terroir Sense, 09/22) 96
The Barone Ricasoli 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Colledilà exudes an elegant fruit profile, but the wine is not without significant intensity and concentration too. With Sangiovese from clayey limestone soils rich in calcium carbonate and poor in organic matter, this wine also boasts that beautiful minerality that we saw in the others. Delicate berry fruit cedes to crushed oyster shell, dark spice and campfire ash. To the palate, the wine is high, firm and long. Drink: 2024-2042.
Monica Larner (Wine Advocate, 02/23) 97+
Distinctly savory, this red delivers grassy, thyme and menthol aromas and flavors allied to notes of cherry, strawberry and loam. Angular and dense, with the fruit component emerging with air, this is long, complex and deftly balanced, revealing an aftertaste of cherry, berry, mineral and herbal accents. Best from 2025 through 2043. 1,000 cases made, 60 cases imported.
Bruce Sanderson (Wine Spectator, 09/22) 97
The Ricasoli 2019 Colledila Gran Selezione Chianti Classico is my favorite of the three Ricasoli Gran Selezione, because of the purity and precision of the fruit and aromas. Colledila comes from Sangiovese grown on 7.62 hectares of vineyard at 380 meters above sea level, facing south-east and on a clayey, limestone soil, rich in calcium carbonate and clay and poor in organic matter. The fruit aromas and flavors are cooler and bluer with sweet violet notes together with ripe cherry and bitter cherry flavors. Beautiful floral aromas fill the glass on standing and swirling. On the palate there is a lovely, gentle texture and weight and a fresh burst of acidity which starts from the middle and continues to the finish. The tannins are very finely textured and yet clipped, clean and very upright giving a firm, refined finish. This, together with mouthwatering freshness from the acidity and a pure, just-ripe, wild cherry quality to the fruit (crunchy rather than overripe) makes for a very lovely, classy example of Sangiovese! Drink 2024 to 2044.
Susan Hulme (The Wine Independent, 09/22) 96
Sourced from a vineyard located at 320m on pure alberese soils, Colledilà displays captivating scents of bramble fruits, sweet violets, lavender and wet earth energised on the palate by well-extracted tannins. A hint of chocolatey oak frames the succulent dark fruit to the core, rounding out the edges and adding to this modern-style wine’s silky texture. It finishes with repeating notes of balsam herbs. Drinking window 2023.
Raffaele Mosca (Decanter, 10/22) 95
Very aromatic. Fresh and sinewy with lots of acidity and muscularity. Some stoniness. Very fluid.
Jancis Robinson (Jancis Robinson, 06/23) 17
Black cherry, plum, leather, camphor, burnt earth and roses inform the bouquet. Full-bodied and fruit-driven with cherry liqueur, licorice and spices. Flesh, tenacity and grip are all Ravera while ripeness and warmth at the back speak to the vintage. Sound structure means no rush to broach this. Not the last word in complexity, just insane value back in the day. Noteworthy in the way of how it juxtaposes with earthier and sassier expressions from outside Barolo. — ★★★½
Appellation: Barolo
Region: Barolo, Piemonte, Italy
Subzone: Ravera, Novello
Cépage: 100% Nebbiolo
Abv: 14.5%
Production: 20,000
Élevage: 24 months in large Slavonian oak barrels, 6 in bottle
Distributor: Tong Woh
Critic Reviews:
Cogno's 2011 Barolo Cascina Nuova is bright, precise and crystalline to the core. Sweet red berries, tobacco, mint, pine and anise all jump from the glass. This is one of the more brilliant Barolos of the vintage, but then again, that is what Ravera is all about. Insistent veins of minerality support the chiseled finish. Drink: 2016-2031.
Antonio Galloni (Vinous, 03/2015) 92+
Extremely fresh and pure, this red exhibits rose, strawberry and cherry flavors, with accents of licorice and leather. Balanced and elegant, revealing a long, resonant aftertaste of sticks and stones. Beautiful harmony.
Bruce Sanderson (Wine Spectator, 12/2015) 94
The 2011 Barolo Cascina Nuova is a balanced and pretty expression that does a great job of presenting aromas of cherry, tar, licorice and grilled herb with equal billing. The wine is made with the estate's younger Nebbiolo vines for a more immediate and approachable style. There is a touch of green herb or olive on the finish that distinguishes it from its peers.
Monica Larner (Wine Advocate, 06/2015) 91
Bottled in August 2014. Fermented in stainless steel and when there was about 30 g/l sugar left the tank was closed and the cap kept submerged in the wine. 35 days on the skins. Healthy mid ruby with orange tinges. Dusty, deep nose of red ripe fruit. Quite savoury too, with hints of liquorice. Immediate, succulent yet a little austere. Pure cherry fruit with a fine tannic structure. A little lean for the moment but great potential.
Walter Speller (Jancis Robinson, 03/2014) 17+
Forest floor, truffle, wild berry and a whiff of grilled herb unfold on this full-bodied red. The savory, structured palate displays ripe black cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice, clove and a hint of chewing tobacco alongside a firm, tannic backbone. Drink 2019–2031.
Kerin O'Keefe (Wine Enthusiast, 02/01/2016) 93
